Variable speed transmission



Feb. 22, 1944. v K|N$ER 2,342,149

' VARIABLE SPEED TRANSMISSION Filed Oct. 16,, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Invenror Feb. 22,1944. I v K s I 2,342,149

VARIABLE SiEED TRANSMISSfON Filed Oct. 16, 1942 '2 Sheets-Sheet 2 if; I v

- 7 lnvnrqr T S PTE,

- ass/ares This invention relates generally to speed transmission and has more particular reference to speed transmissions of variable type.

My invention has for its prime objects the provision of a transmission having substantially continuously variable speed transmission ratios between predetermined limits; the provision, in such apparatus, ofmeans whereby the speed changing elements operate repeatedly between their speedchanging limits, carrying greatly reduced torque, to effect the desired over-all speed changes; the provision of speed changing mechanism, of the kind described, in whichtorquetransmission is effected to a large extent by gears or other positive drives instead of the usual frictional drives, and, in general, to improve the construction of transmissions adapted especially, though not exclusively, for industrial application.

And with the above and other objects in view, my invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view through a variable speed transmission of my invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the cam 38, taken approximately along the line 2-2, Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the segmentary gear #2, taken approximately along the line 3-3,

Figure l;

Figure 4 is a view taken along the circumferof the grooves 33, 3 B, 35, 35 showing a full 360 degrees;

Figure 5- is a sectional view showing the pairs of clutching clogs 87, ea in clutching engagement, taken approximately along the line 5-5, Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken approximately along the line 6-, Figure 1; and

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken approximately along the line 7-1], Figure 5.

Referring now more in detail and by reference characters to the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention, I designates the drive shaft of the device, being rigidly afiixed to a sun gear l 2 and likewise rigidly affix-' ed to the gear 45 which is in mesh with the gear 5. The drive shaft 8 is supported on one end by the bearing 2 provided in the housing A of the transmission.

Power is transmitted from the gear. 4 to the gear 1, preferably, as in this instance, by means of any type of continuously variable speed transmission made up and sold under various trade names andhaving various features of construc tion. The gears d, 5 transmit power to the con= stant speed shaft 55 of the variable'speed transmission t, the output shaft 55 being connected to sleeve 8 by means of the gears t, i in any suitable manner. So it will be noted; torque is transmitted from the drive-shaft I to the sleeve 8 at variable ratios determined bythe variable speed transmission 3, best seen in Figure 1.

The sleeve s embraces the drive shaft l and on one end is provided with a pair of radially extending arms 9 in each of which is the bore ill. Revolvably mounted in the bores it) are the shafts H, upon each of, which is rigidly amxed a planetary pinion i3, disposed for meshing engagement with the sun gear i2.

Rigidly aifixed on the respective ends of the shafts H are the planetary pinions Hi, is disposed for meshing engagement respectively with the gears as, H which are rigidly amxed to the revolvable members or sleeves i9, 26 for respective operative engagement of the sleeves i9, it by and with the planetary pinions, it, l5, all of which is best seen in Figure 1.

Referring, again, to Figure 1 it will be noted that the planetary pinions it are larger than the planetary pinions i3, and, that the planetary pinions is are smaller than the planetary pinions 53. Upon rotation of the sleeve 53 in either direction with respect to the drive shaft 9, the sleeve 28 will rotate at a speed intermediate with respect to the drive shaft 5 and the sleeve t, since the planetary pinions i3, 55 are disposed to rotate at the same speeds with respect to each other, and, because of the difference in size of planetary pimions it, it the sleeve 2t must rotate at a speed nearer the same speed of the sleeve 8 than the driveshaft Q.

Such an intermediate speed of the sleeve is, however, will not be effected, instead, the drive shaft 5 will be caused to rotate at a speed intermediate with respect to the sleeves l9, 8, since the planetary pinions 83 are smaller than the planetary pinions Hi and the drive shaft i must rotate at a speed nearer the same speed of the sleeve 8 than the sleeve it. So, it will be understood, because of these intermediate speeds of the sleeve 20 and they drive shaft I, rotation of the sleeve 8 on the drive shaft 8' will cause the sleeves I9, 28 to be driven in reverse directions with respect to the drive shaft I oreach other. The planetary pinions i3, i4, i5, therefore, serve as means for reversing the direction of speed change of the sleeves is, 26 with respect to each the gears 26, 21 wil1 be held against axial movement, best seen in Figure 7. In a like manner the gears 28, 29 are mounted on the sleeve 28 and are adapted to cooperate with a snap ring as 88 so that the gears 28, 29 will be held against axial movement on the sleeve 28.

For rotarily supporting the sleeves I9, 28 by the housing A there is provided the bearings l8 suitably arranged at the ends of the sleeves I9, 20. The housing A is split so as to facilitate assembly will, then, be permitted to fall between the teeth 3| for driving engagement therewith.

Mounted revolvably in the housing A is the cam shaft 32, on one end of which is provided the ment of the sleeves 38 on the cam shaft 32 will be imparted to the shifting collars, 49, 58, 5|, 52 as the case may be.

Disposed in the periphery of the cam shaft 32 are the grooves 33, 34, 35, 36 into each of which of the parts and is provided with a suitable number of fastening elements or bolts 60, the split in the housing A being arranged so as to provide accessibility to the bearings 2, 39, 4|, best seen in Figure 1.

Meshing respectively with the" gears 26, 21, 28, 29 is the cooperating gears 22, 23, 24, being rigidly afilxed on the driven shaft 2| which is revolvably mounted in the housing A, as by the bearings 36. It may be well to here say that the gear 26, 21, 28, 29 are arranged progressively in size in the order of 21, 28, 26, 29 the amount of step in speed between the respective gears corresponding to the difference in speed of the sleeves I9, 26 at the respective limits of speed change of the variable speed transmission 3. It should be noted, also, that the respective gears 28, 21, 28, 29 are arranged to progress in size so that no two gears next in order of progress with respect to each other will be on the same sleeve either |9 or 20, for purposes soon to appear.

Each of the gears 26, 21, 28, 29 is provided with an axially extending set of teeth 3|. Disposed for respective operative engagement with each set of teeth 3| are the pairs of clutching dogs 41, 48, in each case, being respectively swingably connected to the shifting collars 49, 50. 5|, 52 as by the pins 54. The shifting collars 49, 58 are splined to the sleeve |9 against independent rotation and so as to be slidable axially. In a like manner the shiftin collars 5|, 52 are splined to the sleeve 20 against independent rotation. v

The clutching dogs 41, 48 are, in each case, suitably formed so as to provide stops as at 19. Disposed between the shifting collars 49, 50, 5|, 52 and the clutching dogs 41, 48 are the springs 53, for urging the latter outwardly so as to be disposed for shifting in and out of clutching engagement with the teeth 3|, as best seen in Figures 1, '7. Referring to Figure 5 it will be noted that the teeth 3| are spaced so that each space between the teeth 3| will be three times the width of any one of the clutching dogs 41, 48 at point of engagement.

The clutching dogs 41, 48 are circumferentially is respectively fit the inner end of the bolts 31, so that the grooves 33, 34, 35, 36 will cause the sleeves 38 to be shifted axially whenever the cam shaft 32 is caused to be rotated in either direction.

The shifting collars 49,. 50, 5|, 52, are caused to be shifted for clutching engagement of the clutching dogs 41, 48 with the teeth 3|, for intervals of clutching engagement of the gears 26, 21, 28, 29 in the same order as they progress in size whenever the cam shaft 32 is rotated, for, it will be noted, referring to Figure 4, the groove 34 is disposed to hold the shifting collar 58 for clutching engagement of the dogs 41, 48 with the teeth 3| of the gear 21 for driving engagement between the gear 21 and the sleeve l9. Then, upon rotation of the cam shaft 32 in a clockwise direction, the groove 35 will cause the shifting collar 5| to shift the clutching dogs 41, 48 into clutching engagement with the gear 28 for driving engage ment between the gear 28 and the sleeve 20, the shifting collar 50 being shifted for disengagement of the dogs 41, 48 from the teeth 3| of the gagement of the clutching dogs 41, 48 with the teeth 3|. It should be noted in this respect, also, that the shifting collars 49, 58, 5|, 52 are operated at intervals so that driving engagement from the sleeves I9, 20 is alternated.

The cam shaft 32 on its one end terminates in a disk like cam 40, having a groove 16 disposed with a profile suitable for operative engagement with the end of the arm 43 which extends from a segmentary gear member 42. The segmentary gear member 42 is pivotally mounted as on the trunnion 46, and is mounted for meshing engagement with the control wheel 44 which is provided to control the speed of the out-put shaft 56 of the variable speed transmission 3, as is the usual practice.

The output speed of the variable speed transmission 3 is controlledby the cam shaft 32, for, rotation of the cam shaft 32 will cause the arm 43 to move in the circumference of the groove 16 the arm 43 will be caused to oscillate and the control wheel will be turned for changing the output speed of the variable speed transmission 3. The speed changes, in this instance, amounting to, in a complete revolution of the cam shaft 32, four complete changes between the limits of the variable speed transmission 3, as best seen in Figure 2.

It may be well to say that these four complete changes of the variable speed transmission 3 occur during the respective intervals in which the gears 26, 21, 28, 29 are caused to be clutched into driving engagement with the sleeve l9 or 20, and, the steps in speed change between the sen-s s. it. as, as being equal to the span in speed change of the variable speed transmission 3. as has been explained, permits the gears 28,

6 being connected to a motor or any suitable driv-- lug spindle and the driven shaft 2i being connected to the tool or machine being driven in any suitable manner.

let it be supposed, that, as in usual applications, the drive shaft I is connected to a motor and the driven shaft M is connected foropera- Then, rotation of the control wheel 59 another quarter turn with the sleeve 20 connected to the gear 28, for this interval, while the variable speed transmission 3 is being changed from a minimum to a maximum speed, another substantial increase in speed of the driven shaft ii is had since the planetary pinions l are smaller than the planetary pinions l3.

At this position, with the gear 26 and the sleeve rotating at approximately the same speed, at one'half turn of the control wheel 59,

tion of some toolor machine, as the case may be. Referring to Figures 1 and 4 it will be noted that the gear 27 is connected to the sleeve it for driving engagement therebetween, as has been explained. 50, under theseconditions the torque cam dc to operate the control wheel tdto change the speed oi the output shaft M from a maximum speed to a minimum speed by the time the control wheel at has turned one quarter revolution, best seen in Figure 2.

This change in speed of the output shaft 5% from maximum to minimum speeds, which in this instance is from two times speed of drive shaft l to one half speed of drive shaft i, will result, then, in an increase in speed of the gear at, and, thus the drivenshaft 2!, since the drive shaft l must rotate at a speed intermediate with respect to the sleeves it, as has been explained. With the output shaft st and, thus.

the sleeve 8 rotating at a maximum speed or taster than the drive shaft i, the sleeve is will m caused to rotate at a minimum speed or slower than the drive shaft l. Upon a change in the speed of the sleeve 3 to a minimum speed or slower than the drive shaft l, rotation of the sleeve it will be at a maximum speed or faster than the drive shaft l.

During this interval of quarter turn of the control wheel as. there has been afiected a subthe grooves 33, 35 cause a shifting of the clutching dogs 41, lid for clutching engagement with the gear 26 and for disengagement from the gear 28. whereupon the next interval of rotation of the control wheel 59 a. quarter turn will cause the variable speed transmission 3, to change from a maximum speed to a minimum speed, and because of the reversal in the planetary pinions I 3, M the driven shaft 2| will again be increased in speed.

After this position of three quarters turn ofthe control wheel 69 has been reached, through the interval of operation of the gear 26, the

1 grooves 33, 36 cause the clutching dogs 41, 68 to become engaged with the gear 29 for clutching engagement between the sleeve 20 and the gear 29 and the 'dogs ll, at to become disengaged from. the gear 26. The variable speed transmission 3 again is caused to be changed from minimum output speed to maximum speed output. This maximum speed limit of the variable speed transmission 3 which is reached after a full turn of the control wheel 59, thus transmitted to the gear 29 in clutching engagement with the sleeve 20 is the maximum speed of the driven shaft 2i possible to attain.

Thus it will be seen my invention accomplishes its object. The variable speed transmission 3 operates repeatedly between its speed changing limits to give the desired over all speed change. The torque is to a large extent carried by gears instead of the usual friction drives stantial speed change between the drive shaft 8 and the driven shaft 2i. Further-rotation of the control wheel 5% will cause the grooves 23 535 to shift the shifting collars so, at for disengagement 02 the clutching dogs ll, at from the gear 277 and for engagement of the clutching dogs at, t8 with the gear 28, it being noted that which have always heretofore been required.

Changes and modifications in' the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of the variable speed transmission maybe made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principles of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

1. In a. variable speed transmission of the kind described, in combination, a. drive shaft, a driven shaft, a pair of sleeves revolvably mounted on said drive shaft, variable speed means connected for driving said sleeves by and with said drive-shaft and, and for reversing the direction of speed change of said sleeves with respect to each other, a plurality of gears mounted on each of said sleeves, said' gears arranged to progress in size and so that no'two gears next in order of progress will be mounted on same sleeve, cooperating gears rigidly mounted on said driven shaft and in meshing engagement with said first named gears, clutches, one for each of said first named gears, for cooperation with the sleeve upon which the gear is mounted, and controlling means adapted both to regulate the speed ofsaidvariable speed means repeatedly between its speed changing limits and to operate said clutches for intervals of operation of said first named gears in the same order as they progress in size.

2.1a. a. variable speed transmission of the series of planetary pinions for meshing engage-.

ment with the other of said pair of gear wheels,-

said first named series of planetary pinions and said second and third series of planetary pinions all amxed to the same shafts and carried by said revolvable members, variable speed'means connected for driving said revolvablemember by and with said drive shaft, a plurality of gears mounted on each of said sleeves, said gears arranged to progress in size and so that no two gears next in order of progress will be mounted on the same sleeve, cooperating gears rigidly mounted on said driven shaft and in meshing engagement with said first named gears, clutches, one for each of said first named gears, for cooperation with the sleeve upon which the gear is mounted, and controlling means adapted both to regulate the speed of said variable speed means repeatedly between its speed changing limits and to operate said clutches for intervals of operation of said first named gears in the same order as they progress in size.

3. In a variable speed transmission of the kind described, in combination, a drive shaft, a driven shaft, 3, pair of sleeves revolvably mounted on said drive shaft, variable speed means connected for driving said sleeves by and with said drive shaft and, for reversing the direction of speed change of said sleeves with respect to each other,'a plurality of gears mounted on each of said sleeves, said gears arranged to progress in size and so that no two gears next in order of progress will be mounted on same sleeve, cooperating gears rigidly mounted on said driven shaft and in meshing engagement'with said first named gears, each of said first named gears provided with a set of teeth, two pairs of clutching dogs for engagement with each set of teeth, :hifting means connected to said dogs, said sets of teeth spaced three times the Width of one of said dogs apart, said pairs of clutching dogs circumferentially disposed with respect to each )thei' so that at least one pair will be disposed for shifting into operative engagement with said teeth, yieldable means disposed between said shifting means and said clutching dogs to perto operate said shifting means for clutching engagement of said clutching dogs with said sets of teeth for intervals of operation of said first named gears in the same order as they progress in size.

4. In a variable speed transmission of the kind described, in combination, a drive shaft, a driven shaft, a pair of sleeves revolvably mounted on said drive shaft, variable speed means connected for driving said sleeves by and with said drive shaft and, for reversing the direction of speed change of said sleeves with respect toeach other, a plurality of gears mounted on each of said sleeves, said gears arranged to progress in size and so that no two gears next in order of progress will be mounted on same sleeve, cooperating gears rig'idly mounted on said driven shaft and in meshing engagement with said first named gears, clutches, one for each of said first named gears, for cooperation with the sleeve upon which the gear is mounted, and controlling means adapted both to operate said clutches for,intervals of operation of said first named gears in the same order as they progress in size' and to regulate the speed of said variable speed means between its complete limits during each ofsaid intervals.

5. In a variable speed transmission of the kind described, in combination, a drive shaft, a driven shaft, first and second revolvable members, variable speed means connected for driving said first and second revolvable members by and with one of said shafts and, for re versing the direction of speed change of said revolvable members with respect to each other, a plurality of gears mounted on each of said revolvable members, said gears arranged to progress in size and so that no two gears next in order of progress will be mounted on same revolvable member, cooperating gears rigidly mounted on the other of said shafts and in meshing engagement with said first named gears, clutches, one for each of said first named gears, for cooperation with the revolvable member upon which the gear is mounted, and controlling means adapted both to operate said clutches for intervals of operation of said first named gears in the same order as they progress in size and to regulate the speed of said variable speed means between its complete limits during each of said intervals.

VERNON KINSER. 

